George Stone May Be In the Future For Virginia College’s Students
December 9, 2018
The Escambia County School District’s George Stone Technical College (GSTC) is encouraging students who were enrolled in programs at Virginia College to consider GSTC as they ask themselves, “What now?”
“We offer programs that can lead to a new career. Our students gain the skills and professional certifications needed to work in their desired field,” said GSTC Principal T.J. Rollins. “Some of our programs may be exactly what their students need to continue their life’s plan.”
Virginia College recently announced their immediate closure after a loss of a accreditation.
George Stone Technical College is operated by the Escambia County School District and offers 29 technical education and adult education programs. Their career programs prepare students for future careers in a wide range of fields, including some that are similar to what was being offered at Virginia College, such as:
Health: Emergency Medical Technician and Home Health Aide/Nursing Assistant
Information technology: Computer Systems & Information Technology (CSIT), Cybersecurity, Applied Network Support Services (CISCO), and Network Systems Administration
Business/Office Management: Accounting Operations, Administrative Office Specialist
Criminal Justice: Correctional Officer, Law Enforcement, Crossover from Correctional Officer to Law Enforcement Office, and Crossover from Law Enforcement Officer to Correctional Officer
“We urge Virginia College’s students to take time to consider their employment goals and to come in with their transcripts and meet with one of our counselors and one of our instructors. After working one-on-one, with our personnel they can determine which of our programs will help them continue to move forward.”
“We know some feel like this has set them back months. Again, we might be able to help with that concern as well because we have students starting the beginning of every month, so they probably will not have to wait long for the class they need to get started.” Rollins said.
Fire Destroys Century Mobile Home; First ‘Red Bulb’ In Fire Safety Campaign
December 8, 2018
Fire destroyed a mobile home early Saturday morning in Century, the first red bulb in Escambia County’s Keep The Wreath Green fire safety campaign.
The occupant of the mobile home in the 9400 block of Ivey Street were able to escape without injuries.
The fire displaced one adult who is being assisted by the American Red Cross.
The cause of the fire, which was reported about 5:45 a.m., is under investigation by the Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office. The mobile home is located directly behind the Dollar General.
The Century, McDavid and Walnut Hill stations of Escambia Fire Rescue, Flomaton Fire Department, Jay Fire Department and the Atmore Fire Department were dispatched to the fire, along with Escambia County EMS and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
During the month-long Keep the Wreath Green campaign, five-foot wreaths are on display at 18 county fire stations and five city fire stations, with wreaths were placed outside Escambia County’s Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building downtown, the Escambia County Public Safety Building, Pensacola City Hall and Cordova Mall near the food court entrance. Each time firefighters respond to a residential fire with damage, a green light bulb is replaced with a red one to remind citizens of the dangers posed by fires in residential home.
NorthEscambia.com and reader submitted photos, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Woman Among 21 Arrested In Statewide Drug Trafficking Investigation
December 8, 2018
Two Escambia County residents, including a woman from Cantonment, were among 21 people arrested for running drug trafficking organization from the Panhandle to South Florida, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
Ashley McDaniel, age 36 of Batson Lane in Cantonment, was charged with illegal use of a two-way communication device to facilitate a felony and conspiracy to possess a controlled substance. Tyshaunn Tarver, age 39 of Interstate Circle in Pensacola, was also charged with illegal use of a two-way communication device to facilitate a felony and conspiracy to possess a controlled substance.
Nineteen others, most from Miami or Okaloosa County, are facing a multitude of charges in charges. Four other suspects remained at large Friday.
FDLE said the investigation dubbed “Operation Crazy 8″ showed the suspects were distributing illegal prescription drugs in Miami-Dade, Broward, Walton and Okaloosa counties.
Authorities began investigating the case after identifying a local drug ring in Okaloosa County whose members were obtaining large amounts of illegal drugs from South Florida and selling those drugs in Walton and Okaloosa counties.
“This massive drug interdiction operation will save lives and send a strong message to anyone trying to traffic opioids in our great state,” said Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi. “This case is just one of many examples of how seamlessly our great law enforcement partners work together to stop drug trafficking and save lives.”
“We are pleased that the statewide prosecutor has worked with law enforcement in order to make these important arrests,” said State Attorney Bill Eddins.
The drug trafficking organization is accused of selling prescription painkillers including oxycodone and hydromorphone. Some of these drugs were obtained from pain clinics in South Florida. Investigators believe the suspects were a main source of illegal drugs in the Panhandle and South Florida as several shipments containing hundreds of illegal painkillers were intercepted by law enforcement.
The investigation and arrests were handled by te Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, Walton County Sheriff’s Offices, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Miami-Dade Police Department and members of the North Florida High Intensity Drug Task Force.
A Magical Miracle League Christmas Night At Tate High School
December 8, 2018
It was a magical Christmas night Friday at Tate High School for some very special guests.
Several groups held a Christmas party for the players of the Miracle League. There were games that include an indoor snowball fight, crafts, visits with Santa, two Christmas skits, and dinner.
The event was sponsored by the Tate High Beta Club with help from the yearbook staff, Diamond Girls, ASL (American Sign Language) Club, STUCO, Drama Club and Community Care Givers.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Man Found Not Guilty In Double Murder Case
December 8, 2018
An Escambia County man was found not guilty in the murder of two people and the shooting of a third.
Gideon Elias Fussner, 19, was charged with two counts of second degree murder and one count of aggravated battery for the shooting deaths of 17-year old Julius Lewis and 19-year old Raymond Martinez and the wounding of Ranlondis McDowell about 11:15 p.m. December 11, 2017, on Weis Lane.
Fussner claimed the shootings were self defense.
Farm Hill Utilities Rescinds Boil Water Notice For Large Part Of System
December 8, 2018
Farm Hill Utilities in Cantonment has rescinded a boil water notice that was in place for a large part of their system due to a water main break.
The notice was issued Tuesday afternoon for South County Road 97 south of West Kingsfield Road, West Kingsfield Road and all side roads south of Kingsfield including Pinebrook and Carmody Hill.
The utility said bacteriological survey showed the water is safe to drink.
100-Year Old Cantonment Survivor, Tate High Participate In NAS Pearl Harbor Programs
December 8, 2018
A Cantonment Pearl Harbor survivor was recognized, and Tate High School took part in remembrance ceremonies on Friday at Naval Air Station Pensacola.
Pearl Harbor survivor retired U.S. Navy Chief Warrant Officer 4 Francis “Frank” Emond, age 100, attended Pensacola-area Chief Petty Officer’s Association Pearl Harbor Remembrance Ceremony Friday morning at Barrancas National Cemetery.
“Sometimes things happen, and you have to recover. You have to stand up again and get started again. You just can’t let adversity hold you down too long,” Emond said.
“I was in Navy Band Number 8, a musician, and we lost all our friends, Navy Band 22 on the Arizona. And I keep thinking of them a lot. It’s a shame they were so young and their lives were cut off at a very very early age. So I just can’t forget them,” he said.
Originally from Rhode Island, Emond enlisted in the Navy in 1938 as a musician. He played the French horn for the ship’s band and even got to perform at the 1939 World’s Fair in New York before he was assigned to the USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) in Hawaii in the summer of 1941. The day before the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, Emond and fellow Navy musicians played at a dance and band contest. His band won the contest against other bands from the USS California (BB-44) and USS Arizona (BB-39). His band later donated the trophy they won in memory to the men from the Arizona. As the sun rose on Dec. 7, 1941, Emond was preparing for morning colors and the raising of the American flag.
That’s when Emond noticed the hundreds of Japanese planes that filled the sky followed by the sound of a torpedo striking a ship docked behind his battleship. In addition to being a musician, Emond was trained as a stretcher bearer and with the general alarm sounding along with the sound of gunfire and explosions; he began retrieving injured and dead Sailors aboard the Pennsylvania.
Following the war, Emond remained in the Navy until he retired in 1968 in Pensacola. He is currently married and has two sons, five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. His 100-year-old brother still lives in Rhode Island.
Also Friday, the Tate High School Wind Ensemble and Chorus performed at a Pearl Harbor Remembrance Ceremony at the Naval Aviation Museum.
Pictured top: Pearl Harbor survivor Frank Edmond of Cantonment speaks during a Pearl Harbor Remembrance Ceremony Friday at Barrancas National Cemetery. Pictured below: The Tate High School Wind Ensemble perform during a Pearl Harbor ceremony at the Naval Aviation Museum. Pictured bottom: The Tate Wind Ensemble with Florida Sen. Doug Broxson. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Man Hides In Septic Tank After Burglarizing Grandmother’s Trailer, Setting Fires
December 7, 2018
Deputies arrested a man found hiding in a septic tank after he allegedly set multiple fires inside his grandmother’s vacant mobile home near Gonzalez.
Jacob Blake Aeppli, 24, was charged with second degree felony arson, felony first degree burglary and petit theft.
Aeppli allegedly broke into the trailer on Packwood Drive, just off East Kingsfield Road and started several fires that damaged the floors and ceilings. He as also accused of stealing a hand truck from the property.
An Escambia County Sheriff’s Office K-9 found Aeppli, nearby hiding in a septic tank wearing camouflage waders with a survival knife on his hip. The hand truck was close by, with his backpack attached to it.
The fire was extinguished by neighbors using a garden hose. The trailer sustained minor damage.
Aeppli remained in the Escambia County Jail Friday with bond set at $28,500.
One For The Hurricane History Books: Flomaton Hurricanes Win 3A State Championship (With Photo Gallery)
December 7, 2018
The Flomaton Hurricanes beat Piedmont 23-12 to win the Class 3A state championship Thursday afternoon in Auburn’s Jordan-Hare Stadium.
It was the first trip to the state championship in the 94-year history of the Flomaton football program.
For a photo gallery, click here.
The Hurricanes were first on the board with a 25-yard field goal from Da’Shun Odom with just over a minute to go in the first quarter.
Piedmont intercepted on fourth and goal and returned it 60 yards to the Flomaton 36 yard line, setting up a 3-yard touchdown run for Piedmont and a 6-3 Bulldog lead.
After a Flomaton interception, Daquan Johnson found Quincie McCall for a 48-yard gain for the Canes. On the next down, Johnson connected with Samuel Smith on a 14-yard touchdown pass. Flomaton was back on top, 9-6.
Piedmont’s Kaedon Jenkins carried for a 75-yard touchdown. With a failed 2 point conversion, the Bulldogs were leading 12-9.
With 50 seconds in the third, Johnson gave Flomaton a 16-12 advantage with a 2-yard touchdown run. Flomaton expanded their lead to 23-12 on another touchdown run from Johnson.
Johnson was named the game MVP.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Pictured top: Daquan Johnson over a Piedmont defender (Trent Penny/Anniston Star). Pictured left inset: Quincie McCall gains yardage for Flomaton (AL.com/Dennis Victory). Pictured below: The Hurricanes celebrate their first ever state championship (Trent Penny/Anniston Star). Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Photo gallery game photos courtesy Trent Penny/Anniston Star, Dennis Vickery/AL.com, Mark Almond/AL.com; fan photos from Alisa Hart and numerous Flomaton fans.
Banks, Heard Named Tate High Students Of The Month
December 7, 2018
Tate High School has named Sean Banks and Raliegha Heard as Students of the Month for October. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.